Second smoking ban bill fizzles out

Publication Date: 2009-06-09

• Publication:The Advertiser

Louisiana's bars and casinos can remain smoke-filled.

On Tuesday, the House health care committee refused to advance a scaled-back smoking ban to the House floor for debate, which likely ensures the proposal's defeat for the session. Earlier, the full House had resoundingly rejected a bid to ban smoking in bars and gambling facilities.

The Senate had passed Sen. Rob Marionneaux's bill to make bars and gambling spots smoke-free. But Marionneaux then stripped casinos from the Senate-backed bill and limited the proposed ban to bars that sell food. The reason: Marionneaux said gambling lobbyists had made certain a similar bill was defeated on the House floor.